So Windows 2012 Essentials is a domain controller … a domain controller that is a file server and a remote access server and a client backup server and …well you get the idea. And because it is a domain controller SMB signing is enabled by default. If you set up Windows 2012 server essentials, you may want to disable SMB signing.

I shouldn’t beat up Paul Thurrott too much – after all he didn’t get a free surface – but he did advocate enabling the HyperV role on a domain controller by running Essentials through the transmorg process even though on twitter he can’t remember he said that – but I digress…but anyway he does have a good set of blog posts showcasing what it can do:

Unable to convert to Server with a GUI from Server Core on an upgraded Windows Server 2012 machine:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2775484/en-us?sd=rss&spid=16526
Assume you have a full installation of either Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2. You upgrade to Windows Server 2012 and choose option "Server with a GUI".
After the upgrade you convert the Server with a GUI installation to Server Core.
In this scenario, if you try to convert back to Server with a GUI, the operation may fail and rollback to Server Core.
*Notes*
* The "Server with a GUI" option is the Windows Server 2012 equivalent
of the Full installation option available in Windows Server 2008 or
Windows Server 2008 R2.
* In Windows Server 2012, An administrator now has the ability to
switch between a Server with GUI and a Server Core, as needed. You
convert an installation from Server with GUI to Server Core.
This problem occurs due to the following three unused WINEVT registry entries being carried over by upgrade:
* HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WINEVT\Publishers\{bc2eeeec-b77a-4a52-b6a4-dffb1b1370cb}
* HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WINEVT\Publishers\{57e0b31d-de8c-4181-bcd1-f70e880b49fc}
* HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WINEVT\Publishers\{8c9dd1ad-e6e5-4b07-b455-684a9d879900}